MEDIA RELEASE - 2016 Our Watch Awards Now Open

07-Jun-2016 10:08 AM

Entries are now open for the 2016 Our Watch Awards.

This is the second year of the national media awards scheme developed by Our Watch, the national organisation established to stop violence against women and their children before it starts.The Awards are designed to recognise and reward exemplary reporting to end violence against women, in particular reporting that highlights the causes of violence and what we as a society can do to prevent it from happening in the first place. The Our Watch Awards are administered by the Walkley Foundation.“Time and time again, national and international research tells us that the public is heavily influenced by the way violence against women is portrayed in the media,” Our Watch Chief Executive Officer Mary Barry said.“The Our Watch Awards, administered by the Walkley Foundation, acknowledge this level of influence. They are a chance to celebrate those journalists and outlets doing an exemplary job in reporting on violence against women and their children in Australia, and highlight best practice to others in the field.”“In recent years, as violence against women has dominated the headlines as never before, many in the media industry are contributing to a new era in the reporting of the issue,” Ms Barry said.The Our Watch Awards are an initiative under the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010-2022 and is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.The Our Watch Awards are open to all journalists and media organisations for work produced in Australia during the eligibility period of July 9, 2015 through to July 7, 2016.Entries are open from June 7 through July 7, 2016, in the following categories:?Best use of social media?All Media: Best news coverage?All Media: Best series or specialAll Media: Best local/community journalism?All Media: Best longform?All Media: Best journalism campaignThe Our Watch Gold Award winner is selected from the above categories.Here’s what the judges had to say about 2015 Our Watch Gold winner, Jess Hill:“Jess Hill devoted a year of her life to researching and reporting exclusively on domestic violence.

“Through quality journalism, she has raised awareness of the complexities of domestic violence and its prevention. Her dedication, deep research and directness of style have produced a series of reports which are both comprehensive and accessible.

“Jess Hill’s body of work is an outstanding document of record deserving of the Our Watch Gold Award for exemplary reporting to end violence against women.”Entries across all Our Watch Awards categories is free. For more information about the Awards and how to enter visit The Walkley Foundation website www.walkleys.com. Entries close July 7, with winners announced at a ceremony in September.For more information on Our Watch and resources for journalists visit ourwatch.org.au.

This announcement coincides with the launch of the Media Representations of Violence Against Women report, which looks at the nature of reporting of violence against women in Australia in 2015. This new research, from Our Watch and Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), is the first national study of its kind.

If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. For more information about a service in your state or local area download the DAISY App in the App Store or Google Play.